ATV with ratcheting four wheel drive actuator

ABSTRACT

A system for and method of shifting a drive configuration of an all-terrain vehicle (ATV) is provided. The system includes a shifter assembly, a gear case, and a linkage assembly extending therebetween. The shifter assembly includes a trigger lever for receiving a mechanical user input, thereby moving the shifter assembly between a locked configuration and an unlocked configuration. The linkage assembly translates the user input to the gear case, thereby causing the gear case to shift between an engaged configuration and a disengaged configuration, respectively. A linkage biasing member provides mechanical flexibility between the shifter assembly and the gear case, facilitating shifting on the fly. The trigger lever is operated by toggling it from a rest position to a deployed position. Upon user release, the trigger lever is automatically returned to its rest position for future engagement by the user.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation application of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 17/176,038, filed Feb. 15, 2021, now U.S. Pat. No.11,254,208, which is a continuation application of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 15/968,023, filed May 1, 2018, now U.S. Pat. No.10,919,388, which claims priority pursuant to 35 U.S.C. 119(e) to U.S.Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/503,733, filed May 9, 2017,the entire disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to motorized vehicles havingvariable drive configurations. More specifically, the present inventionis concerned with an all-terrain vehicle (an “ATV”) having a ratchetingshifter assembly for mechanically shifting the ATV between a two-wheeldrive configuration and a four-wheel drive configuration.

BACKGROUND

Existing ATVs having variable drive configurations utilize an electronicactuator to shift the ATV from a two-wheel drive configuration to afour-wheel drive configuration. The actuator is controlled by anelectronic switch, thereby enabling a user to change the driveconfiguration of the ATV by operating the switch. Unfortunately, thenecessary components for such electrical systems are expensive andsometimes inadequate and/or unreliable in some ATV operating conditions.Furthermore, existing configurations make it difficult for a user toshift the ATV while riding. Consequently, it would be beneficial for anATV to have a shifting system, such as a mechanical shifting system,that is less expensive and easier to use than existing shifting systems.It would also be beneficial for the shifting system to be adequate andreliable in all ATV operating conditions.

SUMMARY

In some examples, an ATV comprises a shifter assembly in mechanicalcommunication with a gear case, thereby facilitating mechanical shiftingof the gear case between a first/disengaged configuration and asecond/engaged configuration. By shifting the gear case between itsdisengaged and engaged configurations, the ATV is shifted between two ormore drive configurations, such as a two-wheel drive configuration and afour-wheel drive configuration. In some embodiments, the shifterassembly includes one or more feature for indicating the driveconfiguration of the ATV.

The shifter assembly includes a mechanical user interface, such as atrigger lever, for receiving a mechanical input from a user of the ATV.A linkage assembly extends between the shifter assembly and the gearcase for translating the user input to the gear case. In this way, theuser is able to control the configuration of the gear case, therebycontrolling the drive configuration of the ATV.

In some embodiments, the shifter assembly is secured to a handlebar ofthe ATV in close proximity to a handgrip of the ATV such that a user canquickly and easily operate the trigger lever with an index finger and/ora thumb. For instance, in some embodiments the trigger lever includes aclick or toggle feature for allowing a user to quickly and easily movethe trigger lever from a first/rest configuration to a second/deployedconfiguration. In some embodiments, the trigger lever is biased towardsthe rest configuration such that movement of the trigger lever from itsdeployed configuration back to its rest configuration is accomplishedsimply by releasing the lever. In this way, the trigger lever isautomatically returned to its rest configuration for future engagementby the user.

In some embodiments, the shifter assembly includes a ratchetingassembly/mechanism for mechanically moving the shifter assembly betweenlocked and unlocked configurations, thereby mechanically setting the ATVin one or more drive configurations. In some embodiments, movement ofthe trigger lever from its rest configuration to its deployedconfiguration causes the ratcheting assembly to move from its lockedconfiguration to its unlocked configuration, or vice versa. In someembodiments, moving the trigger lever from its deployed position to itsrest position has no effect on the configuration of the ratchetingassembly.

In some embodiments, the linkage assembly includes a linkage biasingmember, such as a spring, so as to provide mechanical flexibilitybetween the shifter assembly and the gear case. In this way, internalcomponents of the gear case, such as splines on a shift collar, areprovided time to align upon actuation.

In some embodiments, the gear case is biased towards its disengagedconfiguration such that moving the shifter assembly from its lockedconfiguration to its unlocked configuration causes the gear case to movetowards its disengaged configuration. In some embodiments, any biasingforce associated with the linkage biasing member is overcome by anopposed biasing force associated with the gear case when the shifterassembly is in its unlocked configuration. Conversely, the biasing forceassociated with the linkage biasing member overcomes the biasing forceassociated with the gear case when the shifter assembly is in its lockedconfiguration. In this way, the configuration of the shifter assemblycontrols the configuration of the gear case, thereby controlling thedrive configuration of the ATV.

The foregoing and other objects are intended to be illustrative and arenot meant in a limiting sense. Many possible embodiments may be made andwill be readily evident upon a study of the following specification andaccompanying drawings comprising a part thereof. Various features andsubcombinations may be employed without reference to other features andsubcombinations. Other objects and advantages will become apparent fromthe following description taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, wherein is set forth by way of illustration and example, oneor more embodiments of the invention(s) and various features thereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

One or more preferred embodiments illustrative of the best mode in whichthe applicant has contemplated applying the principles, is set forth inthe following description and is shown in the drawings and isparticularly and distinctly pointed out and set forth in the appendedclaims.

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of an all-terrain vehicle (ATV) with amechanical shifter assembly secured to a handlebar thereof.

FIG. 2 is an isometric view of a mechanical shift assembly secured to ahandlebar of an ATV.

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the mechanical shift assembly of FIG. 2 .

FIG. 4A is a top view of the mechanical shift assembly of FIG. 2 , shownin a first configuration.

FIG. 4B is the top view of FIG. 4A, shown on an enlarged scale and witha top portion of a housing removed.

FIG. 5A is a top view of the mechanical shift assembly of FIG. 2 , shownin a second configuration.

FIG. 5B is the top view of FIG. 5A, shown on an enlarged scale and witha top portion of a housing removed.

FIG. 6A is an isometric view of the mechanical shift assembly of FIG. 2.

FIG. 6B is an isometric view of FIG. 6A, shown in a first configurationwith a top portion of a housing removed.

FIG. 6C is an isometric view of FIG. 6A, shown in a second configurationwith a top portion of a housing removed.

FIG. 7A is a top view of a portion of the mechanical shift assembly ofFIG. 2 , shown in a first configuration.

FIG. 7B is an isometric view of the portion of the mechanical shiftassembly of FIG. 7A, shown on an enlarged scale.

FIG. 8A is a top view of a portion of the mechanical shift assembly ofFIG. 2 , shown in a second configuration.

FIG. 8B is an isometric view of the portion of the mechanical shiftassembly of FIG. 8A, shown on an enlarged scale.

FIG. 9 is a side elevation view of a portion of a frame of an ATV,showing a linkage assembly of the ATV extending towards a front gearcase of the ATV.

FIG. 10 is an isometric view of a portion of the frame and gear case ofFIG. 9 .

FIG. 11 is a sectional view of the gear case, taken along line 11-11 ofFIG. 9 .

FIG. 12 is a sectional view of the gear case, taken along line 12-12 ofFIG. 11 .

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

One or more embodiments are disclosed herein; however, it is to beunderstood that the one or more embodiments are merely exemplary of theprinciples of the invention(s), which may be embodied in various forms.Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed hereinare not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for theclaims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the artto variously employ the teachings herein in any appropriately detailedstructure.

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a four-wheel all-terrain vehicle (“ATV”)10 having a shifter assembly 100 for shifting the ATV between atwo-wheel drive configuration (a “first configuration”) and a four-wheeldrive configuration (a “second configuration”). It will be appreciatedthat other embodiments include a different number of wheels or otherdrive mechanisms and/or different variable drive configurations. In eachembodiment, the ATV is configured to shift between first and seconddrive configurations, wherein power is directed to a first number ofwheels when the ATV is in the first drive configuration and a secondnumber of wheels when the ATV is in the second drive configuration. Insome embodiments, the second number of wheels is greater than the firstnumber of wheels. In other embodiments, the first number of wheels isgreater than the second number of wheels.

FIG. 2 shows an embodiment of the shifter assembly 100 secured to ahandlebar 30 of the ATV and a portion of a linkage assembly 500extending from the shifter assembly 100. The shifter assembly 100includes a mechanical user interface, such as a trigger lever 210, so asto provide a user of the ATV the ability to shift the ATV between firstand second configurations. In some embodiments, the shifter assembly ispositioned in close proximity to a handgrip 32 of the ATV (e.g., within4 inches) so as to facilitate safe and easy operation of the triggerlever 210 by a user while the user is operating the ATV. In someembodiments, the trigger lever 210 is positioned relative to thehandgrip 32 such that the user can operate the trigger lever 210 with anindex finger of the hand while the hand is still gripping the handgrip,thereby allowing the user to maintain a constant grip on the handgripwhile mechanically shifting drive configurations of the ATV.

In some embodiments, the shifter assembly 100 is configured to shift theATV from a first drive configuration to a second drive configuration bymoving the trigger lever 210 from a first position to a second position.In some embodiments, the shifter assembly 100 is similarly configured toshift the ATV from its second drive configuration to its first driveconfiguration by moving the trigger lever 210 from its first position toits second position. In some embodiments, the shifter assembly 100includes a trigger biasing member 250 for biasing the trigger lever 210towards its first position, thereby automatically reconfiguring theshifter assembly 100 for mechanically shifting the ATV from the seconddrive configuration to the first drive configuration following shiftingthe ATV from the first drive configuration to the second driveconfiguration, or vice versa. In some embodiments, the shifter assemblyincludes a position indicator 330 for indicating the configuration ofthe ATV. In some embodiments, the shifter assembly 100 further includesindicia corresponding with one or more position of the positionindicator 330, such indicia providing an indication of the configurationof the ATV based on the position of the position indicator 330.

In some embodiments, the shifter assembly includes a housing 110 havinga bottom portion 112 and a top portion 114 secured together to form aninterior area 115 that is at least partially enclosed, thereby servingaesthetic, safety, protective, and/or functional purposes. In someembodiments, as shown in FIG. 2 , the housing 110 defines an aperture116 through which the position indicator 330 is visible. In some suchembodiments, a lens cover 118 is positioned over at least part of theaperture 116. It will be appreciated that other embodiments, not shown,the position indicator 330 extends from the housing 110 and/or ispositioned outside of the housing 110.

Still referring to FIG. 2 , some embodiments further include a throttlelever 22 of a throttle assembly 20 positioned at or near the triggerlever 210 such that a user can operate the throttle lever 22 with thesame hand used to operate the trigger lever 210. In this way, the usercan control the speed and the drive configuration of the ATV with asingle hand. In some embodiments, the throttle lever is positionedrelative to the handgrip 32 such that the user can operate the throttlelever 22 with a thumb of the hand gripping the handgrip, therebyallowing the user to maintain a constant grip on the handgrip whileoperating the throttle lever. It will be appreciated that in otherembodiments the trigger lever will be positioned so as to accommodateoperation by the user's thumb, by one or more of the user's fingers,and/or by a palm of the user. It will further be appreciated that inother embodiments the throttle lever will be positioned so as toaccommodate operation by one or more of the user's fingers and/or by thepalm of the user's hand.

Referring to FIG. 3 , the shifter assembly 100 includes a triggerassembly 200 and a cam 300. The trigger assembly 200 is moveable from arest configuration towards an advanced configuration by moving thetrigger lever 210 from a first position towards a second position.Similarly, the linkage assembly 500 is movable between a firstconfiguration and a second configuration by moving the cam 300 between afirst position and a second position, respectively. In some embodiments,the position indicator 330 extends from the cam 300 such that theposition indicator 330 provides an indication of the position of the cam300 and/or a position of the linkage assembly. In some embodiments, thetrigger lever 210 and/or the cam 300 is configured to rotate about aprimary axis of the shifter assembly 100 such that movement of thetrigger lever 210 and/or cam 300 between respective first and secondpositions is accomplished by rotating about the primary axis. In someembodiments, the primary axis is defined by a primary pin 102 of theshifter assembly.

In some embodiments, at least part of the trigger assembly 200 and thecam 300 are positioned at least partially within an interior area 115 ofa housing 110 of the shifter assembly 100, with the trigger lever 210extending from the housing for selective engagement by a user of theATV. In some embodiments, a primary pin 102 extends into the interiorarea 115 of the housing 110 so as to provide support about which thetrigger lever 210 and cam 300 are configured to rotate.

Still referring to FIG. 3 , the shifter assembly 100 further includes aratchet assembly 400. The ratchet assembly 400 includes a ratchet gear410 for selective engagement with the trigger assembly 200 and/or thecam 300. In some embodiments, the ratchet gear 410 includes a firstportion 412 for selective engagement with the trigger assembly 200 and asecond portion 414 for selective engagement with the cam 300. Theratchet assembly 400 is moveable between a locked configuration and anunlocked configuration. In some embodiments, moving the ratchet assembly400 between locked and unlocked configurations causes the shifterassembly 100 to move between respective locked and unlockedconfigurations. In the unlocked configuration, the ratchet assembly 400is configured to allow the cam 300 to move freely between its first andsecond positions. In the locked configuration, the ratchet assembly isconfigured to retain the cam 300 in its second position. In someembodiments, the ratchet gear 410 is configured to rotate about anauxiliary axis of the shifter assembly 100 such that rotation of theratchet gear 410 causes the ratchet assembly 400 to move between itslocked and unlocked configurations. In some embodiments, the auxiliaryaxis is parallel with the primary axis.

The trigger assembly 200 includes one or more features for selectivelyengaging with the cam 300. In some embodiments, an engagement pin 240extends from the trigger lever towards the cam. Referring to FIGS. 7Aand 7B, some embodiments of the shifter assembly 100 are configured suchthat the engagement pin 240 of the trigger assembly 200 is positionedadjacent to an engagement lip 310 of the cam 300 when the cam 300 andthe trigger lever 210 are in their respective first positions, therebycausing the trigger assembly 200 to be engaged with the cam 300. It willbe appreciated that in other embodiments, depending on the relativetravel of the trigger lever 210 and the cam 300, the engagement pin 240is displaced from the engagement lip 310 when the cam 300 and thetrigger lever 210 are in their respective first positions. In some suchembodiments, the engagement pin 240 of the trigger assembly 200 isconfigured to engage with the engagement lip 310 of the cam 300 as thetrigger lever is moved towards its second position. When engaged withthe engagement lip 310 of the cam 300, the engagement pin 240 of thetrigger assembly 200 urges the cam 300 towards its second position asthe trigger lever 210 moves towards its second position.

Some embodiments of the trigger assembly 200 include an advancementmechanism 220 for advancing the ratchet assembly 400 between locked andunlocked configurations. In some embodiments, the advancement mechanism220 includes an advancement pawl 222 that is configured to urge theratchet assembly 400 towards its locked configuration as the triggerlever 210 and the cam 300 move towards their respective secondpositions. In this way, the ratchet assembly 400 advances from itsunlocked configuration to its locked configuration, thereby engagingwith a locking lip 320 of the cam 300 so as to secure the cam 300 in itssecond position. In some embodiments, the advancement mechanism 220 isconfigured to urge the ratchet assembly 400 towards its unlockedconfiguration, thereby disengaging the ratchet assembly 400 from thelocking lip 320 of the cam 300 so as to allow the cam 300 to move awayfrom its second position.

In some embodiments, the advancement mechanism 220 includes anadvancement pawl 222 for selective engagement with the ratchet gear 410of the ratchet assembly 400. As the trigger lever 210 moves towards itssecond position, the advancement pawl 222 causes the ratchet gear 410 torotate in a first direction, thereby causing the ratchet assembly toadvance from its unlocked configuration to its locked configurationand/or from its locked configuration to its unlocked configuration. Insome embodiments, the advancement mechanism 220 includes an advancementbiasing member 224 for biasing the advancement pawl 222 into engagementwith one or more tooth of the ratchet gear 410 while the trigger lever210 moves from its first position to its second position. In someembodiments, the advancement pawl 222 disengages from the ratchet gear410 as the trigger lever 210 moves from its second position to its firstposition. In this way, the advancement mechanism is capable of rotatingthe ratchet gear 410 in the first direction but not a second direction.

In some embodiments, the ratchet assembly 400 further includes a stopmechanism 420 for preventing the ratchet gear 410 from rotating in thesecond direction. In some embodiments, the stop mechanism includes astop pawl 422 that is configured to selectively engage with the ratchetgear 410 as the trigger lever 210 when the ratchet assembly 400 is inits locked or unlocked configuration. In this way, the stop mechanism420 selectively restricts the ratchet assembly 400 from moving betweenits locked and unlocked configurations. In some embodiments, the stopmechanism 420 includes a stop biasing member 424 for biasing the stoppawl 422 into engagement with one or more tooth of the ratchet gear 410when the ratchet assembly 400 is in its locked or unlockedconfiguration, thereby preventing the ratchet gear 410 from rotating inthe second direction. In some embodiments, the stop pawl 422 disengagesfrom the ratchet gear 410 as the ratchet gear 410 rotates in the firstdirection. In this way, the advancement mechanism is capable ofpreventing the ratchet gear 410 from rotating in the second directionwithout preventing rotation in the first direction.

Referring to FIGS. 4B and 5B, the cam 300 defines a receptacle 350 forreceiving a first end 512 of an inner wire 510 of the linkage assembly500, thereby coupling the linkage assembly to the cam. In someembodiments, a first end 522 of an external sheath 520 of the linkageassembly 500 is secured relative to the shifter assembly 100 such thatmovement of the cam 300 between its first and second positions causesthe inner wire 510 of the linkage assembly 500 to move relative to theexternal sheath 520 of the linkage assembly 500, thereby moving thelinkage assembly 500 between first and second configurations. In someembodiments, the cam 300 further defines a raceway 352 extending fromthe receptacle 350 such that as the cam 300 moves towards its secondposition, a portion of the inner wire 510 of the linkage assembly isreceived by the raceway 352 of the cam 300, thereby controlling theamount of travel of the inner wire 510 relative to the external sheath520.

Referring to FIGS. 9 through 12 , the linkage assembly 500 extendstowards a gear case 600 of the ATV, such as a front gear case. In someembodiments, a linkage bracket 550 extends from the gear case 600 and/oris otherwise secured relative to the gear case. The linkage bracket 550is configured to receive a second end 524 of the external sheath 520 ofthe linkage assembly 500, thereby securing the second end 524 of theexternal sheath 520 relative to the gear case 600. In this way, aconstant distance is established between the gear case 600 and thesecond end 524 of the external sheath 520 such that a second end 514 ofthe inner wire 510 is caused to travel relative to the gear case 600 asthe linkage assembly 500 is moved between its first and secondconfigurations, thereby causing the gear case 600 to move betweenrespective first/disengaged and second/engaged configurations. Eachfirst and second configuration of the gear case 600 and the linkageassembly 500 is associated with a respective first or second driveconfiguration of the ATV.

In some embodiments, the gear case 600 is biased towards its disengagedconfiguration. In some such embodiments, such as the embodiment shown inFIGS. 11 and 12 , the gear case 600 includes a disengagement biasingmember 602 for biasing the gear case towards its disengagementconfiguration, thereby biasing the ATV towards its first driveconfiguration. In some embodiments, moving the linkage assembly 500 fromits first configuration to its second configuration overcomes a biasingforce associated with the disengagement biasing member, causing the gearcase 600 to move towards its engaged configuration, thereby causing theATV to move towards its second drive configuration.

In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 10 , the ATV includes a linkagebiasing member 560 for biasing the gear case towards its engagedconfiguration, thereby biasing the ATV towards its second driveconfiguration. In some embodiments, moving the linkage assembly from itsfirst configuration to its second configuration causes a biasing forceassociated with the linkage biasing member 560 to overcome the biasingforce associated with the disengagement biasing member 602, therebycausing the gear case to move towards its engaged configuration.Conversely, moving the linkage assembly from its second configuration toits first configuration allows the biasing force associated with thedisengagement biasing member to overcome the biasing force associatedwith the linage biasing member, thereby allowing the gear case to movetowards its disengaged configuration.

In some embodiments, the disengagement biasing member is an internalbiasing member positioned at least partially within an interior area ofthe gear case. In some embodiments, the linkage biasing member is anexternal biasing member positioned at least partially outside of aninterior area of the gear case.

In some embodiments, the linkage biasing member 560 extends between thegear case 600 and the second end 514 of the inner wire 510 of thelinkage assembly 500. In some embodiments, the biasing member iscoupled, directly or indirectly, to a rod 610 or other feature of thegear case 600 such that the biasing force associated with the linkagebiasing member excerpts a translational force on the rod 610. In someembodiments, the rod 610 is coupled to a carriage assembly 604 or otherfeature of the gear case 600, such feature being configured toselectively engage with a drive gear 606 or other feature of the ATV 10.In some embodiments, the carriage assembly 604 includes a shift collar608 that is configured to mesh with the drive gear 606 when the carriageassembly 604 is in an engaged configuration, thereby creating amechanical link between a power source of the ATV and one or more wheelof the ATV, the creation of such mechanical link causing the ATV to movefrom its first drive configuration to its second drive configuration. Insome embodiments, moving the carriage assembly 604 away from its engagedconfiguration towards a disengaged configuration breaks the mechanicallink between the power source of the ATV and the one or more wheel ofthe ATV, thereby causing the ATV to move from its second driveconfiguration to its first drive configuration. In some embodiments, thedisengagement biasing member 602 of the gear case 600 is configured tobias the carriage assembly 604 towards its disengaged configuration,thereby biasing the ATV towards its first drive configuration.

In some embodiments, a method of shifting an ATV 10 from a first driveconfiguration to a second drive configuration is carried out by moving atrigger lever 210 of a shifter assembly 100 from a first position to asecond position. During at least part of such travel, the trigger lever210 is engaged with a cam 300 of the shifter assembly 100 such that thecam 300 is similarly moved from a first position to a second position. Afirst end 512 of an inner wire 510 of a linkage assembly 500 is securedto the cam 300 such that movement of the cam 300 between its first andsecond positions causes the linkage assembly 500 to move betweencorresponding first and second configurations, thereby moving a secondend of the linkage assembly 500 relative to a gear case 600 of the ATVso as to facilitate moving the gear case 600 between corresponding firstand second configurations associated with corresponding first and seconddrive configurations of the ATV. In some embodiments, the method furtherincludes moving the trigger lever 210 away from its second positionwhile retaining the cam 300 in its second position, thereby disengagingthe trigger lever 210 from the cam 300 while retaining the ATV 10 in itssecond drive configuration. In some embodiments, the method furtherincludes engaging the cam 300 with a ratchet assembly 400 of the shifterassembly 100 so as to retain the cam 300 in its second position afterthe trigger lever 210 becomes disengaged from the cam 300. In someembodiments, the method further includes disengaging the cam 300 fromthe ratchet assembly 400 and moving the cam 300 from its second positionto its first position, thereby causing the ATV to move from its seconddrive configuration to its first drive configuration. In someembodiments, the method further includes moving the trigger lever 210from its first position to its second position so as to cause the cam300 to become disengaged from the ratchet assembly 400.

In some embodiments, the shifter assembly 100 engages with one or moredifferential lock such that operation of the trigger lever 210 of thetrigger assembly 200 of the shifter assembly 100 moves the differentiallock between a locked and an unlocked configuration. In someembodiments, a first trigger lever of the shifter assembly 100 isconfigured to operate the differential lock and a second trigger leveris configured to change the ATV from a first drive configuration to asecond drive configuration. In some embodiments, a first shifterassembly is configured to operate the differential lock and a secondshifter assembly is configured to change the ATV from a first driveconfiguration to a second drive configuration.

In the foregoing description, certain terms have been used for brevity,clearness and understanding; but no unnecessary limitations are to beimplied therefrom beyond the requirements of the prior art, because suchterms are used for descriptive purposes and are intended to be broadlyconstrued. Moreover, the description and illustration of the inventionsis by way of example, and the scope of the inventions is not limited tothe exact details shown or described.

Although the foregoing detailed description of the present invention hasbeen described by reference to an exemplary embodiment, and the bestmode contemplated for carrying out the present invention has been shownand described, it will be understood that certain changes, modificationor variations may be made in embodying the above invention, and in theconstruction thereof, other than those specifically set forth herein,may be achieved by those skilled in the art without departing from thespirit and scope of the invention, and that such changes, modificationor variations are to be considered as being within the overall scope ofthe present invention. Therefore, it is contemplated to cover thepresent invention and any and all changes, modifications, variations, orequivalents that fall within the true spirit and scope of the underlyingprinciples disclosed and claimed herein. Consequently, the scope of thepresent invention is intended to be limited only by the attached claims,all matter contained in the above description and shown in theaccompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in alimiting sense.

Having now described the features, discoveries and principles of theinvention, the manner in which the invention is constructed and used,the characteristics of the construction, and advantageous, new anduseful results obtained; the new and useful structures, devices,elements, arrangements, parts and combinations, are set forth in theappended claims.

It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended tocover all of the generic and specific features of the invention hereindescribed, and all statements of the scope of the invention which, as amatter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.

What is claimed is:
 1. A vehicle comprising a shifter assembly forchanging a drive configuration of the vehicle, the shifter assemblycomprising: a cam having a position indicator, the cam being rotatableabout a first axis between first and second cam orientations such thatthe position indicator is moveable between first and second indicatorpositions, respectively; and a trigger assembly having a trigger leverand an engagement pin extending therefrom, the trigger lever beingrotatable about the first axis such that the trigger lever is moveablebetween first and second trigger positions, wherein the cam defines anengagement lip displaced from the first axis, wherein the engagement pinis displaced from the first axis and is configured to engage with theengagement lip of the cam when rotation of the cam and trigger lever aresynchronized, thereby enabling the trigger assembly to influencerotation of the cam, and wherein the first and second indicatorpositions are associated with respective first and second driveconfigurations of the vehicle.
 2. The vehicle of claim 1, furthercomprising a ratchet assembly for engaging with the cam when the cam isin the second cam orientation, the ratchet assembly being moveablebetween a locked configuration and an unlocked configuration, the lockedconfiguration of the ratchet assembly being configured to inhibitrotation of the cam such that the position indicator is retained at thesecond indicator position, thereby locking the vehicle in the seconddrive configuration.
 3. The vehicle of claim 2, wherein the triggerlever is free to rotate towards the first trigger position while theposition indicator is retained at the second indicator position.
 4. Thevehicle of claim 2, wherein the ratchet assembly comprises: a ratchetgear rotatable in a first direction about a second axis, the second axisbeing displaced from the first axis; and a stop mechanism engaged withthe ratchet gear, the stop mechanism being configured to inhibitrotation of the ratchet gear in a second direction about the secondaxis.
 5. The vehicle of claim 4, wherein the ratchet gear comprises afirst portion for selective engagement with the trigger assembly and asecond portion for selective engagement with the cam, the first portionbeing rotatably fixed to the second portion.
 6. The vehicle of claim 5,wherein the cam defines a locking lip that is configured to engage witha tooth of the second portion of the ratchet gear when the ratchetassembly is in the locked configuration, the cam being biased towardsthe first cam orientation and the engagement of the locking lip with thetooth preventing rotation towards the first cam orientation.
 7. Thevehicle of claim 5, wherein the stop mechanism comprises a stop pawl anda stop biasing member for biasing the stop pawl into engagement with thesecond portion of the ratchet gear.
 8. The vehicle of claim 7, whereinthe stop biasing member comprises a torsion spring engaged with aproximal end of the stop pawl, wherein a preload of the torsion springbiases a distal end of the stop pawl into engagement with the firstportion of the ratchet gear.
 9. The vehicle of claim 8, wherein thetrigger assembly further comprises an advancement mechanism comprisingan advancement pawl having proximal and distal ends and an advancementbiasing member engaged with the proximal end of the advancement pawl,wherein the distal end of the advancement pawl is configured to engagewith the first portion of the ratchet gear as the trigger lever movestowards the second trigger position, and wherein the advancement biasingmember is configured to facilitate disengagement of the advancement pawlfrom the ratchet gear as the trigger lever moves back towards the firsttrigger position.
 10. The vehicle of claim 9, wherein the advancementbiasing member comprises a torsion spring engaged with the proximal endof the advancement pawl, wherein a preload of the torsion spring biasesthe distal end of the stop pawl into engagement with the first portionof the ratchet gear, and wherein the engagement pin extends through theadvancement biasing member and the advancement pawl.
 11. A vehiclecomprising a shifter assembly for changing a drive configuration of thevehicle, the shifter assembly comprising: a cam having a positionindicator, the cam being rotatable about a first axis between first andsecond cam orientations such that the position indicator is moveablebetween first and second indicator positions, respectively; a triggerassembly that is configured to engage with the cam; and a housingdefining a window, the position indicator comprising first and secondportions, the first portion of the position indicator being viewablethrough the window and the second portion of the position indicatorbeing concealed by the housing, wherein the first and second indicatorpositions are associated with respective first and second driveconfigurations of the vehicle.
 12. The vehicle of claim 11, wherein atleast a portion of the position indicator extends into the window. 13.The vehicle of claim 11, further comprising a lens cover positioned overat least a part of the window.
 14. The vehicle of claim 11, wherein thehousing comprises a bottom portion and a top portion secured together toform an interior area, the cam being positioned at least partiallywithin the interior area of the housing.
 15. The vehicle of claim 11,further comprising a ratchet assembly for engaging with the cam when thecam is in the second cam orientation, the ratchet assembly beingmoveable between a locked configuration and an unlocked configuration,the locked configuration of the ratchet assembly being configured toinhibit rotation of the cam such that the position indicator is retainedat the second indicator position, thereby locking the vehicle in thesecond drive configuration, wherein the trigger lever is free to rotatetowards the first trigger position while the position indicator isretained at the second indicator position.
 16. A method of mechanicallyshifting an all-terrain vehicle (ATV) between first and second driveconfigurations by moving a cam between respective first and second camorientations, the method comprising: engaging a trigger assembly withthe cam; moving a trigger lever of the trigger assembly from a firsttrigger position to a second trigger position while the trigger assemblyremains engaged with the cam, thereby moving the cam from the first camorientation to the second cam orientation; and disengaging the triggerassembly from the cam while retaining the cam at the second camorientation.
 17. The method of claim 16, further comprising moving thetrigger lever back to the first trigger position while retaining the camat the second cam orientation.
 18. The method of claim 17, furthercomprising moving the trigger lever from the first trigger position tothe second trigger position, thereby reengaging the trigger assemblywith the cam.
 19. The method of claim 18, further comprising moving thetrigger lever from the second trigger position to the first triggerposition while the trigger assembly remains engaged with the cam,thereby moving the cam from the second cam orientation back to the firstcam orientation.
 20. The method of claim 19, further comprising:engaging the cam with a ratchet assembly, thereby facilitating retentionof the cam at the second cam orientation; and disengaging the cam fromthe ratchet assembly, thereby facilitating movement of the cam back tothe first cam orientation.